COVID-19 (COVD2)

Collect

Nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs in viral transport media. Swab specimen should be collected only on swabs with a synthetic tip and with aluminum or plastic shafts.
Bronchoalveolar lavage, tracheal aspirates and sputum specimen in sterile containers.

Specimen Preparation

N/A

Patient Prep

N/A

Pediatric Collection

N/A

Unacceptable Conditions

Swabs with calcium alginate or cotton tips with wooden shafts are not acceptable.

Transport at ambient environmental conditions.

Storage Transport Temp

Specimens must be packaged, shipped, and transported according to the current edition of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulation. Follow shipping regulations for UN 3373 Biological Substance, Category B when sending potential SARS-CoV-2 specimens.

Store the specimens at 2-8°C for up to 72 hours after collection and transport on ice pack. If a specimen is frozen at -70 °C or lower, shipping must be overnight on dry ice.

Stability

Specimen can be stored at 4⁰C for up to 72 hours after collection. If a delay in extraction is expected, store specimen at -70⁰C or lower

Performed

Seven days a week.

Methodology

This qualitative assay is a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay. It contains a multiplex primer and probe set specific to three SARS-CoV-2 viral genomic regions. It is intended to detect nucleic acid from the SARS-CoV-2 virus from upper and lower respiratory specimens during the acute phase of infection in patients who meet CDC COVID-19 clinical criteria in conjunction with CDC COVID-19 epidemiological criteria.